AHEC Director Lynda Bennett is serving as facilitator for the Idaho Telehealth discussion group convened by Representative John Rusche. This group is made up of health care providers, educators, program administrators and other key stakeholder with an interest in telehealth / telemedicine from all across the state. Lynda is also compiling resource files on various aspects of telehealth and telemedicine which will soon be made available on the AHEC website.
According to the Center for Connected Health Policy, telehealth and telemedicine can be defined as follows:
TeleHealth: a mode of delivering health care services that utilizes information and communication technologies to enable the diagnosis, consultation, treatment, education, care management and self-management of patients at a distance from health providers.
TeleMedicine : The use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications to improve patients' health status.

-For more information about telehealth /telemedicine in Idaho contact seethe Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center HERE

or contact

Lynda Bennett
Program Center Director
AHEC
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(208) 336-5533 ext 253

One of the services that AHEC provides is to serve as ambassador for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC).  This is a federally funded program that has been helping bring health care providers into rural and underserved regions since the 1970’s.  There are two primary ways this is accomplished – through scholarships to students who commit to working in rural areas after completion of their training and through loan repayment programs that  enable working professionals in approved health care disciplines  to pay down their student loans.

NHSC Loan Repayment Program is open to licensed primary care medical, dental, and mental and behavioral health providers who are employed or seeking employment at approved sites.  The two programs (scholarship and loan repayment) available for nurses and nursing students have been united into one common area called NURSE Corps.

The 2013 NURSE Corps Scholarship Program application cycle is now open. The deadline to apply is May 2, at 7:30 pm, ET. To learn more about program eligibility and requirements, CLICK HERE

Through the NURSE Corps Scholarship Program and the NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program, NURSE Corps is empowering and enabling nurses to follow their passion for helping and healing others. To learn more please visit the new NURSE Corps web page where you will find important program information. While you’re visiting the web page, please be sure to check out the first edition of NURSE Notes, the new quarterly newsletter. Later this spring, NHSC will be  sharing a special member stories feature entitled "Stories from the Field" and a NURSE Corps Facebook page.

The Idaho SEARCH Program, which was managed by the Idaho Primary Care Association via a three-year contract with HRSA, officially ended on September 30, 2012. Through Idaho SEARCH, 75 health profession students and residents completed 4-6 week rotations in rural and underserved communities. Each participant was assigned to a preceptor and a community mentor. Student and resident evaluation responses clearly indicated that Idaho SEARCH preceptors provided quality instruction. IPCA would like to thank the following clinicians who dedicated their time, experience, and skills to training future health care providers while caring for Idahoans who might not otherwise have received care.

Idaho SEARCH Community Mentors also played a critical role in ensuring a successful rotation experience for the participant. Their role was to assist the participant with community integration and with development of a meaningful community project. Community Mentors came from all kinds of backgrounds. Some were clinic administrators or staff, some were clinic board members or patients, and others were community leaders who support the clinic. We thank them for their service as well!



Idaho State University-Meridian, in partnership with Ada County, Central District Heath and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, will offer free Community Health Screenings for uninsured adults in winter and spring 2013.
Screenings take place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on these dates.
· Feb. 7, Immanuel Lutheran Church, 707 W. Fort St., Boise
· March 7, CATCH Office, 503 S. Americana Blvd., Boise
· April 11, Boys & Girls Club, 610 E. 42nd St., Garden City

The screening process, which takes about an hour, includes basic physical exams, dental evaluations, blood sugar and HIV testing, nutrition assessments, mammogram referrals, preventive health education, and depression, alcohol and hearing screenings. Free flu shots are available while supplies last.
For more information, call 208-373-1700

Screening for hearing loss are among services provided at ISU-Meridian and Ada County community health screenings.